smokeless tobacco use and its association with oral potentially malignant lesions among patients seeking dental care during 2020-2022 in dakshina kannada, karnataka, india

Background: this study aimed to investigate the association between oral potentially malignant lesions (opml) and the consumption of areca nut and tobacco among individuals in the dakshina kannada district of karnataka, india.methods: this observational, cross-sectional analysis was conducted as part of the various outreach programs organized by the institution. dental patients from the dental college, camps, and rural centers were screened for opmls. participants with smokeless tobacco (slt) habits were included. a validated questionnaire, administered in the local language, was used to gather demographic data and habit details. subsequent oral examinations recorded opml characteristics. descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were utilized for analysis using ibm spss software.results: of the 4847 screened individuals seeking dental care, 330 slt users were included. the majority (25.2%) were aged 51–60 years, predominantly male (69.4%), and from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (69.7%). most resided in rural areas (95.2%), with some reporting a family history of cancer. among slt users, 37 also smoked, and 40 consumed alcohol. various slt forms were reported, with betel quid, areca nut, lime, and tobacco being the most common (63.6%). of the participants, 38.8% had opmls, primarily oral submucous fibrosis (39.06%) and leukoplakia (14.8%). opmls were predominantly found on the buccal mucosa (76.5%). significant associations were found between the type of tobacco products, method of consumption, duration of slt use, and the presence of opmls.conclusion: this study highlights a significant association between slt habits and the presence of opmls among individuals in dakshina kannada. understanding these associations can inform preventive strategies and oral health interventions to reduce the burden of potentially malignant lesions in this population.